Democrats rally fund-raising forces, lag behind GOP

Most area Democrats seeking state offices improved their fund-raising records during September, but only one candidate, judicial hopeful John Heisserer, has exceeded his GOP opponent for the entire year.

According to campaign reports filed this week, Heisserer, who is trying to regain the judicial post he lost to Ben Lewis in 2004, has raised $54,704. Lewis, a Republican hoping to win a full six-year term as circuit judge, has raised $23,140.

The reports detail fund-raising and spending from Sept. 3 to Sept. 30. For the month, Heisserer reported outraising Lewis $25,135 to $5,930.

Heisserer and Lewis are competing for circuit judge in the 32nd Circuit, which covers Cape Girardeau, Bollinger and Perry counties. Heisserer reported $27,308 on hand for the final month of the campaign compared to $9,929 for Lewis.

The only other Democrat to beat the September fund-raising totals for his GOP opponent was Steve Hodges of East Prairie, who is battling Republican Gary Branum of New Madrid for the open 161st District Missouri House seat. Hodges reported raising $15,588 in September, compared to $6,750 for Branum.

Branum has raised a total of $56,631 to win the seat that covers Mississippi, New Madrid and eastern Scott County including Scott City, while Hodges has raised $40,423. Branum had $40,641 in the bank on Sept. 30, compared to $12,887 for Hodges.

All other Republican legislative candidates maintained or extended their fund-raising advantage in September.

The most successful GOP fund-raiser in the month was incumbent state Rep. Billy Pat Wright of Dexter, seeking to defend his 159th District seat against Boyce Wooley, the Democratic candidate he defeated in 2004. Wright raised $19,830 in September, compared to $2,075 for Wooley.

The 159th District includes southwestern Cape Girardeau County, most of Stoddard County and part of Wayne County. Wright increased his total fund-raising for the year to $53,447, while Wooley has gathered $25,714. Wright had $35,103 on hand for the final month, compared to $6,592 for Wooley.

In the 160th District, Republican Ellen Brandom of Sikeston, running against Democratic candidate Larry Tetley of Sikeston out-raised her opponent $15,134 to $4,925 in September. For the year, Brandom has raised $76,329 while Tetley has gathered $20,900. Brandom had $43,312 on hand as of Sept. 30, while Tetley had $5,704 for the final push to election day.

The 160th District covers western Scott County, including Benton and Sikeston, as well as small sections of Cape Girardeau, Mississippi and New Madrid counties.

The top Republican in the Missouri House, Speaker Rod Jetton of Marble Hill, maintained his cash lead over Democratic nominee Michael Winder of Marquand in September. Jetton, who is seeking his fourth and final term, raised $10,275 versus $4,323 for Winder.

For the year, Jetton has raised $90,065 to $20,004 for Winder. Jetton had $46,186 in the bank on Sept. 30, compared to $2,282 for Winder. They are competing in the 156th District, which covers Bollinger, Wayne and Madison counties.

In the 158th District, which includes most of the city of Cape Girardeau, first-term Republican incumbent Nathan Cooper added $9,775 to his campaign treasury while Democratic challenger Matt Hill raised only $948. Cooper has raised a total of $52,562 for his election while Hill has gathered $7,293. Cooper had $40,220 on hand Sept. 30, while Hill had $3,556 available for the final month.